Sweep Yuan

Chapter 221 The Next Battle: Dominating the Yangtze River

In late October, the air on Chaohu Lake grew increasingly chilly. A north wind swept across, stirring up fine waves that lapped against the boats with a soft, lapping sound. The sky was a characteristic grayish-blue of early winter, with low-lying clouds allowing sunlight to barely penetrate and cast shimmering patches of light on the water's surface.

"boom--!"

A sudden, loud bang shattered the silence of the lake.

A large cloud of thick white smoke billowed from the port side of a medium-sized warship, the immense recoil causing the ship to tilt slightly to the right. The deafening roar echoed across the open lake, carrying far and wide, startling several water birds perched in the reeds in the distance.

Not far away, an old boat used as a target was torn open by the loud noise, with a fist-sized (six centimeters in diameter) iron bullet tearing a hideous gash in the upper front of the hull.

Wood chips burst and flew everywhere along the gunwale. The hull was violently rocked and tilted by the huge kinetic energy of the projectile. Some lake water rushed in, but it did not break or capsize in the end, and continued to rise and fall in the waves.

On the warship, Shi Shan stood with his hands behind his back, calmly observing the effect of the attack. He thought to himself that the caliber of this cannon was still too small, and its power was ultimately limited. Its penetrating power and destructive force were not enough to cause fatal damage to slightly larger ships.

Standing beside him, Tao Chengdao, the director of the Crafts Institute, was somewhat dissatisfied with the gunner's slow reaction and frowned as he reprimanded him:
"How could you miss at such close range! The target ship was almost stationary, what was so difficult about that?"

The gunner was a quick-witted soldier selected specifically to learn artillery operation. He had already memorized Professor Tao Chengdao's operating instructions perfectly. His face was full of grievance as he whispered in defense:

"Just now... just now a wave came up, and the ship rocked a bit, so..."

Tao Chengdao was aware of the potential for mishaps, but such a deviation in a distance of less than forty paces still made him feel embarrassed. He took a deep breath of the cold air, which carried the smell of lake scum and gunpowder, and patiently instructed:
"Stop making excuses! Anticipate the fluctuations and lower the gun barrels by about five degrees now!"

The precise angular measurement concept of "degree" was naturally not proposed by Tao Chengdao.

In reality, given the almost mystical firing accuracy of smoothbore cannons, operating them relies solely on experience and intuition, making such "precise" operating parameters unnecessary. Only a genius like Tao Chengdao, who is obsessed with ingenuity, would be so fixated on standardized operation.

After the last test firing in the eastern part of Hefei, Shi Shan watched the aiming device designed by Tao Chengdao and listened to his enthusiastic explanation for a while before he roughly understood its principle.

Afterwards, Shishan took the opportunity to instill the concepts of "angle" and "degree" in Tao Chengdao, and arranged for craftsmen to make a protractor.

Today, not only can the firing angle of artillery be more precisely positioned in "degrees," but the Crafts Institute is also beginning to try applying this concept in many other designs and manufacturing processes involving geometric shapes.

In fact, the concept of angle already existed in Chinese mathematics, but it was rather crude. For example, a right angle was called "矩" and a 45-degree angle was called "宣".

What Shishan did was simply take the opportunity to further refine, standardize, and promote its application.

He also plans to gradually quantify and standardize parameters such as temperature, humidity, and density that affect military production and scientific experiments in the future, once conditions are ripe.

"boom--!"

A second loud bang followed quickly, and the cannon once again spewed flames and smoke. This time, the projectile finally hit the target ship precisely in the middle of its hull.

With a sickening tearing sound, the side of the small boat was ripped open, creating a larger gash. Lake water rushed in, the boat rocked violently, and it visibly sank. However, because the boat was small and light, it did not immediately break in two or capsize.

Of course, in actual combat, if this were a warship full of soldiers and moving quickly, such an attack would surely render it incapable of fighting even if it did not sink immediately. The casualties and panic would be enough to force it to withdraw from the battle.

Ishiyama was quite satisfied with the effect of the attack and gave the order:

"Cease fire! Move closer and check the damage!"

Today's mission was merely to verify the applicability and destructive effect of light artillery in naval warfare. The objective has been achieved, and there is no need to waste precious gunpowder and projectiles to completely destroy that poor target ship.

As the two ships slowly approached, the group was able to examine closely the damage the bronze cannons had inflicted on the small boat at close range. The planks were shattered, and the edges of the holes were twisted and jagged, demonstrating the immense force of the impact.

"Tsk tsk, this power... Even a large ship hitting a reef at sea would only suffer this much damage."

Having been in the maritime trade for many years, Yang Polang naturally understood that the power of this single bullet was on a completely different level from the destructive force of a large ship hitting a reef in the wind and waves. Seven parts of his statement were genuine emotion, while three parts were to cater to Shishan's plan to apply artillery to naval warfare.

However, he left himself an open question by adding:

"If this bullet were a few sizes bigger, it would look even more like one!"

Ishiyama certainly wanted the projectiles to be "a few points bigger," but that would mean the barrel would need to be thicker and longer, and the weight of the gun would increase exponentially, not only causing the casting difficulty and cost to skyrocket, but also placing extremely high demands on the vehicle.

In the future, the large ocean-going vessels of the Red Flag Battalion may be equipped with such heavy artillery, but for the time being, we should not consider it too much for the current inland river warships and should proceed step by step.

"Marshal, I believe this cannon is indeed suitable for naval warfare!"

Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Xu Da, gave a positive conclusion first. His sharp eyes clearly indicated that he had given it considerable thought. He then explained in detail:

"In naval warfare, apart from fire attacks and crossbow fire, whether it is grappling, boarding, ramming, or battling, enemy and friendly warships must get extremely close to each other before they can engage in battle."

This cannon can fire from a hundred paces away. Even if its initial accuracy is limited, its sheer force and power are enough to disrupt enemy naval formations. If it hits, it can severely damage enemy ships, giving our forces the upper hand.

Having been in command of the navy for more than half a year, Xu Da had already mastered various traditional naval warfare tactics. He was not saying these things to curry favor with Shi Shan, but rather he had seriously considered the tactical changes that the deployment of artillery might bring.

However, his thinking was still conservative, regarding artillery bombardment only as a powerful supplement to the existing mainstream tactics, and he had not yet fully realized that the emergence of this new weapon would fundamentally overturn the form of naval warfare that had lasted for thousands of years.

Ishiyama decided to further stimulate his thinking and, with a smile, put forward a hypothesis:
"Tiande (Xu Da's courtesy name), imagine if we could build a large warship in the future, equipped with twenty or thirty cannons with larger calibers and greater power on each of the port and starboard sides. How powerful do you think this ship would be when facing the enemy?"

"Twenty or thirty doors on each of the port and starboard sides?!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Da gasped, his mouth slightly agape, even subconsciously ignoring the premise that "larger caliber means greater power." He had already witnessed the power of artillery firsthand, and its low accuracy could be completely compensated for by sheer numbers.

If so many cannons could fire simultaneously... he could hardly imagine the scene.

Xu Da quickly deduced the scenario in his mind, his eyes growing brighter and brighter, and he excitedly said:
"Why need twenty or thirty cannons? Marshal! A single large ship can be equipped with about ten cannons. Before the enemy warships even enter the range of our crossbows, we can fire multiple times! This is enough to rid the enemy ships of the same size with holes, or even sink them directly."

This will inevitably lead to a complete change in future naval warfare tactics, and many close-quarters combat methods may become unavoidable alternatives.

"good very good!"

Shi Shan was greatly pleased to see that Xu Da indeed possessed exceptional military talent and was able to apply his knowledge to new situations. He then revealed:
"These two cannons in front of me are just prototypes. They have a small caliber and limited power. Their main purpose is to support land battles. I will not leave them to the navy this time."

Chuzhou is already experimenting with casting larger iron cannons, and within a year, the navy could acquire up to three specially designed gunboats! Each ship will be equipped with no fewer than twelve cannons (including bow and stern cannons).

Although it would take at least three or four months to receive the first gunboat, Xu Da couldn't help but feel excited at the thought of his fleet soon possessing such a powerful weapon. He could almost see the magnificent scene of the Red Flag Battalion's naval banners covering the sun and cannons roaring as they traversed the Yangtze River.

He immediately straightened his back, clasped his hands in a respectful gesture, and solemnly declared:

"Please rest assured, Marshal! I will study the tactics and strategies of gunboat warfare as soon as possible and submit them to you for review. Once the gunboats are commissioned, I will immediately organize the soldiers to carry out targeted training. I will live up to your expectations and never let such a magnificent weapon go to waste."

Shi Shan believed that with Xu Da's comprehension and ability, he would definitely be able to figure out a new tactical system for coordinated operations between gunboats and existing warships. He didn't intend to offer his own limited and somewhat unprofessional knowledge from later generations, but merely provided a few additional suggestions:

"When we forge larger caliber cannons in the future, I will also order the Crafts Institute to develop two special types of ammunition: one is the 'grape shell' which is mainly used to scatter and kill enemy deck soldiers and damage ship sails and ropes."
Secondly, there's the 'chain shot,' primarily used for precision strikes to damage enemy ship masts and disable them. You can memorize these concepts and think about their application scenarios in advance. Once the actual product is available, it will enrich our military's naval warfare tactics.

"Grape seeding? Chain bullet?"

Excitement flashed in Xu Da's eyes again. Although these were two new terms he had never heard of before, combined with Shi Shan's brief description, he could roughly imagine their combat effectiveness and application methods. He was filled with confidence for future naval warfare and said loudly:
"Marshal's thinking is thorough and meticulous, I am truly impressed! With the help of such a powerful weapon, our army will surely be able to control the Yangtze River waterway!" Indeed, seizing control of the Yangtze River waterway is one of Shishan's core strategic objectives for the next stage.

He had already planned to launch a battle for control of the Yangtze River waterway no later than next year (the thirteenth year of the Zhizheng era, which was already late October).

Zhang Shicheng's sudden uprising on the eastern front only strengthened his resolve and prompted him to accelerate his pace.

This is why Shishan overruled objections and prioritized allocating the current precious artillery production capacity to the navy.

"The Yuan Dynasty's delegation has arrived in Hefei and is expected to depart for Yangzhou tomorrow."

Thinking of Zhao Lian's unusual eagerness this time, Shi Shan assigned Xu Da another task, saying:
"This time, no merchant ships will be arranged to escort the delegation back. The navy will select a reliable warship, and the soldiers will all change into civilian clothes to carry out the escort mission. Just don't make too much of a fuss."

"It's a rare opportunity to get close enough to scout out the Yuan army's defenses along the river and select some capable men!"

Although the navy is currently making every effort to expand its fleet, its production capacity is limited. A large number of warships are still fishing boats and cargo ships that have been simply modified and reinforced, and they are capable of escorting missions without needing much camouflage.

But as Shi Shan said, having a legitimate reason to get close to the enemy's defenses before the upcoming battle for the Yangtze River waterway is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Upon hearing this, Xu Da's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he volunteered:
"Marshal, this reconnaissance mission is of utmost importance. Could I personally lead the team to ensure its success?"

Shi Shan glanced at Xu Da, then at Yang Polang beside him who was eager to try, pondered for a moment, and smiled:
"Your aura of ruthlessness is unlike that of an ordinary ship captain; it's too conspicuous. Here's the plan: let Polang take command on the surface. You blend in with the ordinary sailors, observe and memorize as much as you can, but be sure to keep a low profile and not reveal your identity!"

Xu Da and Yang Polang exchanged a glance, both knowing the gravity of the matter, and immediately clasped their hands in acceptance of the order:
"Your subordinate obeys! I will certainly not fail in my mission!"

Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Xu Da tried his best to seize the opportunity to personally investigate the enemy's situation, while Tao Chengdao, the Director of the Crafts Institute, was unwilling to give up the precious time to return with Shishan on the same ship and discuss academic matters.

On the way back to Hefei, he turned into a "curious child," staying close to Shishan and constantly asking all sorts of questions that he had been pondering but could not answer.

"Marshal, I have pondered for a long time why gunpowder can explode violently in a confined space and also launch such heavy projectiles to extremely far distances inside a cannon barrel. What is the underlying principle?"
After numerous experiments, my subordinates discovered that the key lies in the fact that gunpowder, upon combustion, can generate a large amount of gas in a very short time. This gas expands rapidly, thus producing tremendous force.

"Hmm! Very observant, and your line of thinking is correct!"

Shishan greatly admired Tao Chengdao's spirit of delving into the essence of things and encouraged him:
What other insights does the Director of Studies have?

Tao Chengdao was greatly encouraged that his insights had been affirmed by the "well-versed in all things" marshal, and continued:
"My subordinates also tested gunpowder with different proportions and found that if the proportion of saltpeter was too high, the burning speed would actually be slower, but its power seemed to be more stable and lasting."

If the formula could be further improved, could it be possible to create a propulsion device that continuously spews out large amounts of gas? Perhaps it could propel things heavier than artillery shells, such as... people, into the air?

Shi Shan suddenly turned to look at Tao Chengdao, only to see a pure and burning research light shining in the other's eyes. He thought to himself: This guy isn't really thinking of taking a rocket to space, is he?!

Tao Chengdao was an invaluable scientific talent under his command, so Shi Shan quickly interrupted this extremely dangerous idea and poured cold water on it, saying:
"Humans are not inanimate objects; Heaven may have its ways, but the key question is how to descend?"

Tao Chengdao had clearly given this question considerable thought, and immediately replied:

"Perhaps... we could make a huge kite, and with the help of the wind, we could control its direction and land safely?"

Shi Shan was both amused and exasperated by Tao Chengdao's out-of-the-time idea, and shook his head with a smile:

"The reason why kites can soar in the sky is due to the combined effect of multiple forces such as gravity, lift, and tension. Their intricate structure is what allows them to maintain balance. Imagine using the force of gunpowder to violently push a person into the sky; how would you handle the enormous impact and rotation?"
Once airborne, without any tether, how can a large kite maintain stability and control its direction amidst turbulent air currents? It's likely that once the propellant runs out, it will flip and plummet in an instant.

Tao Chengdao was successfully diverted from the topic, and immediately seized upon the new words in the Shishan dialect, asking questions like a curious child:

"Gravity? Lift? Marshal, what exactly are these two forces? What is their meaning? Could you explain in detail?"

"Uh……"

Shi Shan was speechless.

He certainly knew the concepts of gravity and lift, but that was all he knew.

To clearly and unambiguously explain its physical essence using the language system of this era, including the simple calculations and formula derivations behind it, is by no means something that can be done in a few words, and it is certainly insufficient to satisfy Tao Chengdao's extremely strong thirst for knowledge.

He didn't want to be pestered by Tao Chengdao for three days and three nights, and still not be able to give a complete answer, so Shishan could only try to give a rough explanation using metaphors and phenomena.

"Gravity, you can think of it as an invisible force that pulls everything toward the ground. Just like a cannonball fired horizontally, why does it inevitably fall after flying a certain distance? Why does it go farther when fired at an upward angle than when fired horizontally?"

It's like a kite: no matter how high it flies, it will fall to the ground once the string breaks or the wind stops.

Anything with weight, when placed at a height, will tend to fall downwards; this force can be called 'gravity'.

"I see! No wonder!"

Tao Chengdao suddenly slapped his thigh, a look of sudden realization on his face, and said:
"I've been pondering how launching projectiles from different angles results in unpredictable trajectories and drops that are difficult to control precisely. It turns out we're missing the crucial parameter of 'gravity'! If we could quantify this force and calculate its impact, the accuracy of artillery firing would be greatly improved!"

While Tao Chengdao was deep in thought, Shishan quickly continued to explain another issue.

"As for lift, it can be considered as the force that is opposite to gravity and lifts an object upward. For example, a kite relies on the wind to obtain lift in order to fly against gravity."

Tao Chengdao quietly processed the information for a while, then, drawing inferences from this, pointed to the boats at his feet and asked:
"When we ride in a boat, the hull does not sink due to gravity, but floats on the water. Is this also a kind of 'lift force' that acts against gravity?"

Shi Shan cursed himself inwardly for being so talkative; he had dug a hole for himself. He wasn't there to popularize classical physics; in fact, he was only "a dabbler" in everything, so he couldn't possibly popularize it.

But having come this far, Shishan could only bite the bullet and continue with a vague explanation, saying:

"I think the principle behind a boat floating on water might be different. It's more like a boat of the same volume is lighter than water of the same volume, so it can be supported by the water. It's like throwing a piece of iron into mercury; the iron will float."

The upward force exerted on this object in a fluid might be more accurately described as 'buoyancy'.

"buoyancy……"

Tao Chengdao fell silent again, pondering this new concept.

But not long after, curiosity gleamed in his eyes again, and he pointed to the sky and asked:

"So, how can the Kongming lantern fly? Is it due to the 'lift' that the marshal mentioned, or this 'buoyancy'?"

"This... is probably due to the buoyancy caused by the lower density of hot air." Ishiyama felt he was starting to struggle.

"In that case,"

Tao Chengdao's thinking took another leap, and he said:

"If we build an extremely large Kongming lantern, with a sturdy enough basket hanging below it, filled with something that burns continuously to provide heat, could it... could it carry people into the sky?"

Shishan: "..."

(End of this chapter)